Good old father's day on the mountain

Oh, it's the family! Yes, I do have some. For father's day weekend we headed up to Mt. Rainier to hike. Unfortunately, we're not that hardcore, so as we drove up to a cold, windy, rainstorm (somehow I was picturing sunny springtime wild flower warmth, damn) that quickly turned snow storm at higher elevations, we quickly chickened out. But we did still make quite a few stops where we ran around madly getting soaked but having a fabulous time. The sun came out briefly near the end when we reached one of the first little mountain peak, and I a ran out to snap a few photos. Down at the bottom you will see the sunny snow pics. Find the one where the black clouds sweep in after five minutes to eat the sun. Nevertheless, it was great fun. And here are a bunch of cutesy family photos, and an excess of nature shots.

Family pics!

My sister and I found a little ice cave.

This picture just made me notice how much my brother and I look alike!

Mum and brother, who turns 16 this week!

Grandpa

Lunch under a tree canopy to avoid the downpour.

The same waterfall, over and over again.

Can batter you to death against the rocks. Guess I shouldn't have gone down there.

Vegas, here I come

So, I guess I casually mentioned that I'm getting married. !!! And so I am. What is all this, you say? Well, we've come a long way.

Our engagement became official a few weeks ago, but I thought I'd try to catch the majority of family up before I broadcasted live to the world. Pardon my rush to put it up here without telling each of you personally, but, well, you all know how I like to post pictures.

And, as I'm finding out, engagements mean one thing; no, not marriage, but becoming a social whore. Meaning, not only do I want to have a fabulous lunch with each and every friend and family member to tell them the news, but each and every friend and family member wants to have a fabulous lunch AND dinner with us, woohoo! The only trouble is, my schedule is becoming just that, a real schedule. Where I pencil in dinner dates and wedding plans, and when people ask if they can hear the engagement story, I have to first whip out the pocket schedule, ponder it for a bit while tapping it with a pencil, and then say "hmmmm, looks like I'm all booked these next two weeks, but I have a 9:30 pm slot open for 13 minutes in August if you'd like to book that".

When hanging out with 138 different friends turns up overwhelmingly at the top of your overcrowded to-do list, you know you've either become a young Hollywood star, or a bride-to-be. But it has been quite wonderful, taking in parties and lunches and catching up with old friends. It's amazing how exciting everyone gets over weddings.

But, it gets a little overwhelming at times, and I end up feeling like a jerk, being so popular and all. I end up having to give the "you've been nexted!" to certain friends on overcrowded days, or turn down well-meaning well-wishers because I simply don't have another minute to be social, because I still haven't had time to shower in the last week.

So apologies to all those dear friends who've made offers of congratulatory coffee dates that I haven't had time for. I'm simply too popular! But we've always known that...

Ah, but wedding planning. It's like entering a whole new world. Not only do I live my already-too-busy regular life, but then I have to use all my spare time next to dinner dates to ponder really important things, like monogrammed napkins and paper doilies. All of which I'm totally sure I'll have at my wedding, by the way. So please stop by.

So get ready for 'wedding planning blog 2007'! You've always wished you could join "The Knot", or think about which is better (cream, eggshell, or ivory? I just can't decide!). So now you can totally be bombarded by a living and breathing bridezilla blog. Come on, you know you've always wanted to keep one of those on your blog roll. It's your guilty pleasure, I know it.


Anyhow, for the short of the engagement story for those still dying to know about all things wedding; Matt planned a lovely weekend down to a familiar secret spot on the California coast. It included, but was not limited to: Harley bikers, Meth addicts, and lock outs. No, really. And the rest was fantastically magical, and I was thoroughly impressed by his planning skillz. It was wonderful. Maybe I'll divulge a few more details next time. Were shooting for September of this year (ahhhh--that's less than 3 months away!!!). It's no October. It will be much better.

But this week I've been sick (again, I know. Weak little immune system. Or too much wedding planning), and so I shall quick make haste to bed, where I will fast close my eyes to be awash in white, and ivory, and eggshell linens, and something beaded, and some cubic zirconium tiaras, and silk flowers, and....

Maybe I will go elope in Vegas after all.